Introduction to SFC John L Cross Jr and his Blog

           The White House Communications Agency (WHCA)                      A Look at Its Past and Present  

The White House Communications Agency (WHCA)
Type Of Activity	Communications support for the White House
Location
Location	Washington DC
Date of Activity	Nov 1965 to Dec 1973
Coordinates	38°53′52″N 77°02′11″W

       Introduction  

  

Before the White House: Nike Missile Service

Before my years with the White House Communications Agency, my military service began at the height of the Cold War, when the defense of American cities depended on constant vigilance. In April 1962, following basic training at Fort Knox, I was assigned to a Nike missile unit in Arlington Heights, Illinois, part of the defensive ring protecting Chicago from potential Soviet attack. Within days, I found myself at the Jackson Park installation, serving in the Integrated Fire Control Platoon at Promontory Point—where radar, computers, and trained crews stood ready around the clock.

This was a time when global tensions could escalate without warning, and the responsibility placed on young soldiers was immense. As a Missile Tracking Radar operator, I played a direct role in guiding interceptor missiles—work that demanded precision, discipline, and trust in both equipment and fellow crew members. That responsibility became especially real during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when our unit remained on high alert for weeks, prepared for the possibility of nuclear conflict.

My early Army years were shaped not only by technical training and operational demands, but also by witnessing history unfold in real time—from the assassination of John F. Kennedy to the evolving global tensions of the 1960s. These experiences laid the foundation for what would follow: a transition from air defense to the highly specialized world of presidential communications.

This Blog tells the story of those formative years—when the mission was clear, the stakes were high, and the path ahead was just beginning.

In the final months of 1964, as my initial Army enlistment drew to an end, I made a decision that would shape the course of the next decade of my life. Rather than return to civilian life, I chose to reenlist and pursue specialized training in microwave radio communications at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. That decision led, unexpectedly, to an assignment with the White House Communications Agency (WHCA)—and to a front-row position in some of the most turbulent and consequential years in modern American history.

Beginning in November 1965, my service with WHCA took me from the quiet, wooded hills of Camp David to a remote mountaintop relay site in Pennsylvania, and later to the Western White House in California and the Florida White House in Key Biscayne. Along the way, I became part of a highly specialized communications network responsible for ensuring that the President, Vice President, and their protective details could maintain secure, reliable contact anywhere in the world.

Over the next nine years, my duties carried me across the United States and overseas in support of two presidential administrations, the United States Secret Service, and senior White House staff. I worked behind the scenes during moments of national crisis and political transformation—from the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Secretary of Defense Robert F. Kennedy, to the unrest of 1968, the Vietnam War era, the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew, ultimately the Watergate scandal and resignation of President Richard Nixon, and the Inauguration of Gerald Ford  to President.

This Blog is a personal account of that journey—of the people, places, and events that defined my service, and of the critical but often unseen role communications played in the functioning of the Presidency during a pivotal era. While time has softened some details, the experiences themselves remain vivid reminders of a period when history unfolded daily—and I was there to help keep the lines open.                  

 Acknowledgements

 

 I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the dedicated men and women of the White House Communications Agency (WHCA), representing all branches of the military, with whom I had the privilege to work and forge lifelong friendships. It would be impossible for me to thank each one of you by name without inadvertently omitting some.

When we traveled for the White House, we took for granted that transportation and equipment would be there for us. The DCAU and DCOU teams, who consistently made this happen, were true warriors behind the scenes, often unknown to us, and did not receive the recognition that we did. My sincere thanks go to all the "at-home" people who supported our logistics so well.

The many WHCA-supported trips, to various destinations across the globe, for presidents, family members, political candidates, and White House staff, could not have been successful without the seamless cooperation extended by the committed U.S. Secret Service professionals I encountered. I am truly grateful for their contribution to making our demanding missions possible.

As I compile this account from my perspective after many years, I want to acknowledge those of you who have shared your own details with me, making this work as accurate and complete as possible. Due to the "need-to-know" qualification and geographic dispersion of our microwave tower locations, many of our experiences were restricted. If my account lacks some details, it is not due to any intentional oversight but probably a lack of exposure to the missing information.

Many thanks to all of the former WHCA people, the information and pictures from Glenn Laser, Jerry Sutton, Don Cammel, Roger Jones, Tom Roemer, Rodger Zabkie, Ray Millaway, Ken Barbi, Kerry Pinkerton, Jackie Johnson, Derrill Ballenger, Jason Walker, and from consultant Tim Tyler, who has been interested enough to help me fill in the blanks within our collective (and somewhat aging) memories. Many thanks to Jim Rockwell for all of the photographs which he contributed from his 2011 trip to Cannonball Tower, to Steve Smith for his photos and for  his support on Grand Cay, and to Marty Williams for his photos of the Nixon Library and Birthplace . I also thank Mike Stratton, a former Cactus M/W duty man who worked many weeks with me at Cannonball in the late 1960’s, for editing my document files into ’HTML’ format so they may be read as a single document using only an Internet browser. He contributed minor suggestions for wording changes by having the advantage of a "fresh pair of eyes" and some common WHCA experiences.

The internet has been a huge resource, providing historical accuracy, pictures, and satellite coverage through Google Earthview. Without it, this would be a less complete and dry account. In some cases, I have used the source wording verbatim where my prose did not add refinement or clarity to the narrative.

In all cases, I want to point out there are many copyright restrictions to my claiming personal rights to any referenced web site content I have included. I neither imply, nor claim any ownership of the copyright material which I have freely duplicated for my non-commercial, private use. [JLC]

 Primary Video References

YouTube  JFK Assassination: Return to Washington DC The Ferdinand Magellan  The Assassination of Robert Kennedy   USA vs. Democracy Chicago Il 1968  1968 DNC: Nightmare in Chicago  Riots at 1968 Democrat Convention  Campaign 1968: A look back  Air Force One Sam (26000)  Inside AF1 (SAM 27000) at Reagan Library Abandoned Military Base Ft Richie MD  Life and Times Presidential Helicopter (Army One ) Watergate Nixon in China Arrival in China 1972  1972 Antiwar demonstrations at the Republican Convention 1972 Republican National Convention Nixon’s Final Trip on AF1 Video trip to Cannonball Tower(2011) 

Critical Past  White House Army Signal Agency (WHASA LBJ Manila Summit Conference LBJ at the Rice Institute and surprise trip to Vietnam The Western White House  State Ceremony at San Clemente(arrival)  State Ceremony at San Clemente(departure)  La Casa Pacifica  The Western White House on the Pacific Ocean "Western White House" administration buildings (WHCA) facilities at the Western White House  Courtyard at the Western White House  The Spirit of 1976  First Marine Division Welcome Back Arrival in China 1972 State Ceremony at San Clemente 1973 (Arrival)  State Ceremony at San Clemente 1973 (Departure)  Camp David Helicopter Pad State Visit at Camp David 1973

 Primary Internet References

 Answers Answers.com.

ABC News   Nixon and Kissinger at Florida White House 1972

GOOGLE Books Earthview The President is at Camp David The Bugging of the White House

Epperson, Michael Ph.D.  Nike Missile bases

Cryptone   Albert J Myer Communications Car

Cross John  Spiro Agnew in Raleigh NC 1968 VP Humphrey in San Jose CA 1968  Curtis Le May Residence Bel Air CA 1968   Nixon Rally at Long Beach CA 1968  New Delhi India Taj Mahal 1970  Air Force One (26000) at El Toro MCAS 1970 LeMasters, Mercersburg, and Greencastle PA  Disneyland  Christmas’ Reagan Library Photos

LaFrance, Albert - coldwar-c4i.net.  Early Presidential Emergency Facilities  AT&T Project Office on Hearthstone Mountain Echo-Fox AF1 Presidential Communications Network  Mount Weather Special Facility 

Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon The University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs. Presidential recordings 

Clemson University LBJ Texas Ranch

Magoun,  Alexander B  Unauthorized recordings provide insight into the history of presidential leadership

Rogoway, Tyler The Presidential Motorcade Has A New Mysterious And Sinister Looking Vehicle   We Have More Info On The Presidential Motorcade’s New Satcom-Packing Super Truck 

The Fascinating Anatomy Of The Presidential Motorcade

Rotenstein, David S., PhD Undisclosed Location Disclosed: Continuity of Government Sites as Recent Past Resources.  Fort Reno’s Cold War Era “Undisclosed Location”

Bertorelli, Paul Hagerstown Morning Herald 1977

Tyler, Tim D.    Cannonball Survey 1998  Red Phone  Moscow- Washington Hotline

Boyer Gene T Inside the Presidents Helicopter

Blogspot.com WHCA Comm. Center Report  Kennedy Assassination  About Camp David  Underground Bomb Shelter at Camp David Raven Rock Mountain Complex   

JFK Library WHASA Photos  The President’s Desk Phone

LBJ Library Jack Albright Interview IJack Albright Interview II

Anderson, Jack and Simon, Bob  Bugging of the White House 

LTC Hill, Laura Transforming POTUS Communications  

Walkers Cay Reborn

Wikipedia Free encyclopedia

WIRED JAN 1994) Phone System Boondoggle - Clinton Admin may have Broken Law

 

 

John L. Cross, 2023

 

 

BIO of SFC John L Cross Jr

Military Awards, Certificates and Decorations

Awards and Decorations

National Defense Service Medal 

 Good Conduct Medal 3rd award

Presidential Service Badge and Certificate Meritorious Unit Commendation with Oak Leaf Cluster

Security Clearances

Secret

Top Secret Crypto

BIO of SFC John L Cross Jr

Military Assignments  

Fort Knox KY Basic Training (1962)

Co. E, 16th Bn., 5th Tng. Regt, U.S.A.T.C. Armor

Jackson Park Nike Site (1962 – 1964)

Btry. C, 2nd Msl. Bn., 57th Arty Chicago 37, IL

Redmond WA Nike Missile Site (1964)

Btry. A, 4th Msl. Bn, 4th, Arty, Redmond WA

Jackson Park Nike Site (1964–1965)

Btry. B, 6 th Msl. Bn, 3rd Arty, Chicago IL

Microwave Radio training Fort Monmouth NJ (1965)

Co. D, US Army Signal School Training Center, Ft Monmouth NJ

        The White House Communications Agency (1965-1974)

Camp David Det.1 (1965-1967)

Cannonball Tower (1967-1970)

San Clemente Communications Contingency Team (1970-1972)

Key Biscayne Communications Detachment (1972-1974)

Presidential Support Trips

Lyndon B Johnson (LBJ) Support Trips                 Richard M Nixon Support Trips

28 Aug 66 to York PA-Dallastown Rally                    11 Jul 69 to Madrid Spain-New Delhi India Trip 

05 Oct 66 to Anchorage AK-Manila PI Trip               12 Jul 69 to Adana Turkey-New Delhi India Trip

06 Oct 66 to Tokyo Japan-Manila PI Trip                   31 Jul 69 to New Delhi India-New Delhi India Trip

26 Oct 66 to Manila, PI-Manila PI Trip                       03 Aug 69 to Bangkok Thailand-New Delhi India Trip

30 Oct 66 to Tokyo Japan-Manila PI Trip                   04 Aug 69 to Tokyo Japan-New Delhi India Trip

01 Nov 66 to Chicago-Manila PI Trip                         28 Jul 70 to Los Angeles CA-Century Plaza

15 Mar 67 to Zandria Surinam-Punta Del Este Trip    30 Oct 70 to Anaheim CA-Convention Center

11 Apr 67 to Punta Del Este-Punta Del Este Trip        26 Mar 71 to Beverly Hills CA-Samuel Goldwyn

14 Apr 67 to Zandria Surinam-Punta Del Este Trip     30 Apr 71  to Camp Pendleton CA-1^st Marine Div

15 Apr 67 to San Antonio TX-Punta Del Este Trip     01 May 71 to Palm Springs CA-Annenberg Estate

                                                                                      15 July 71 to Burbank CA-NBC Studios

1968 Election Support Trip                                       29 Jul 71 to Santa Rosa CA-Bohemian Grove

21 Sep 68 to Atlanta GA-George Wallace                   20 Aug 71 to Loma Linda CA-Medical Center

04 Oct 68 to Newark NJ-George Wallace                   28 Aug 71 to Santa Catalina Island-Mojo Cruise

07 Oct 68 to Raleigh NC-Spiro Agnew                        27 Nov 71 to Palm Springs CA-Eisenhower Med

24 Oct 68 to San Jose CA-Hubert Humphrey              04 Jan 72  to San Diego CA-National Shipbuilding

27 Oct 68 to Los Angeles CA-Hubert Humphrey        06 Jan 72  to San Clemente CA-Japan PM Sato

30 Oct 68 to Long Beach CA-Richard Nixon              20 Feb 72  to Agama Guam-China Trip

31 Oct 68 to Burbank CA-Richard Nixon                    29 Feb 72 to Honolulu HI-China Trip

03 Nov 68 to Anaheim CA-Curtis Le May                           

05 Nov 68 to Los Angeles CA–Nixon/Humphrey    

Vice Presidential Support Trips,

Presidential Visits to San Clemente and Presidential Visits to Key Biscayne

Spiro T Agnew Support Trips                                 San Clemente Visits and Side Trips                  

02 Dec 69 to New Orleans LA                                     26 Jun 70 to 06 Jul 70- Los Angeles CA

23 Feb 70 to Phoenix AZ                                             24 Jul 70 to 03 Aug 70- Los Angeles CA           

19 Oct 70 to Tucson AZ                                               21 Aug 70 to 06 Sep 70-San Diego CA

31 Oct 70 to Newport Beach CA                                  30 Oct 70 to 04 Nov 70- Anaheim CA

19 Nov 70 to Palm Springs CA                                    05 Jan 71 to 14 Jan 71-Santa Catalina Island  

08 Feb 71 to Palm Springs CA                                     26 Mar 71 to 4 Apr 71-Beverly Hills CA

05 Apr 71 to San Diego CA                                         30 Apr 71 to 3 May 71-Palm Springs

09 Jun 71 to Los Angeles CA                                      06 Jul 71 to 22 Jul 71-Burbank CA

27 Nov 1971 to Palm Springs CA                                21 Aug 71 to 3 Sep 71-Loma Linda CA

27 Dec 71 to Palm Springs CA                                    24 Nov to28 Nov 71 to Palm Springs CA

19 Apr 72 to New Orleans LA                                     02 Jan 72 to 08 Jan 72- San Diego CA

                      

Henry Kissinger Support Trip                                 Trips to the Bahamas

13 Oct 71 to Hilo HI-Pre China Trip                           25 Jul 72 to Walkers Cay Bahamas-Maintenance

                                                                                     29 Aug 72 to Walkers Cay Bahamas-Maintenance

Key Biscayne FL Visits and Side Trips                   13 Sep 72 to Walkers Cay Bahamas-Maintenance

22 Aug 72 to 24 Aug 72-1972 National Convention  03 Oct 72 to Walkers Cay Bahamas- Maintenance

08 Nov 72 to 12 Nov 72-Ocean Reef Club                 31Oct 72 to Walkers Cay Bahamas- Maintenance

30 Nov72 to 04 Dec 72- Ocean Reef Club                  11 Nov 72 to Key Largo FL-Ocean Reef Club

20 Dec 72 to Dec 26 72- Ocean Reef Club                 30 Nov 72 to Walkers Cay Bahamas- Maintenance

12 Jan 73 to 18 Jan 73 - Ocean Reef Club                   09 Dec 72 to Orlando FL- Equipment Repair

26 Jan 73 to 29 Jan 73- Grand Cay Visit                     11 Dec 72 to Grand Cay Bahamas- Maintenance

16 Feb 73 to 18 Feb 73                                                17 Jan 73 to Walkers Cay Bahamas-Maintenance

22 Mar 73 to 26 Mar 73-Ocean Reef Club                  06 Mar 73 to Walkers Cay Bahamas- Maintenance

20 Apr 73to 24 Apr 73-Grand Cay Visit                     04 May 73 to Walkers Cay Bahamas-POTUS Visit

03 May 73 to 07 May 73-Grand Cay Visit                  15 May 73 to Walkers Cay Bahamas-Maintenance   

26 May 73 to 28 May 73-Grand Cay Visit                  22 May 73 to Walkers Cay Bahamas-Maintenance

08 Jun 73 to 10 Jun 73-Coco Lobo III                         26 May 73 to Grand Cay Bahamas-POTUS Visit

15 Jun 73 to 17 Jun 73-Coco Lobo III                         12 Jun 73 to Walkers Cay Bahamas-Maintenance

17Aug 73 to 20 Aug 73-Coco Lobo III                        26 Jun 73 to Walkers Cay Bahamas-Maintenance

04 Oct 73 to 07 Oct 73-Ocean Reef Club                    12 Jul 73 to Grand Bahama Island Bahamas- Maint.

01 Nov 73 to 05 Nov 73-Coco Lobo III

16 Nov 73 to 20 Nov 73-Coco Lobo III                     Nixon Family Support Trips

                                                                                      9 Feb 73 to Jacksonville FL - Julie Nixon  

WHCA TDY Trips and Training                             12 Feb 73 to Jacksonville FL– Julie Nixon     

Cannonball-Microwave Duty                          Crate-Communications Rail Car

10 Jan 66 to 17 Jan 66- Mercersburg PA                     20 Jul 66 to Harrisburg PA-Equipment Maintenance

07 Feb 66 to 14 Jan 66-Mercersburg PA                     25 Jul 66 to Washington DC-Communications Test

28 Feb 66 to 7 Mar 66-Mercersburg PA                                

11 Apr 66 to 19 Apr 66- Mercersburg PA                   Training/ Recruiting

16 May 66 to 23 May 66- Mercersburg PA                 16 Jan 67 to Washington DC - Howard University

13 Jun 66 to 20 Jun 66- Mercersburg PA                     26 Feb 67 to Washington DC– HF Radio

05 Jul 66 to 11 Jul 66- Mercersburg PA                       17 Sep 67 to Lemoyne PA- AT&T 1A1 Key

01 Aug 66 to 08 Aug 66- Mercersburg PA                   04 Aug 68 to El Paso TX– Ft Bliss Recruiting

06 Sep 66 to 12 Sep 66- Mercersburg PA                    18 May 69 to Norfolk VA– Naval Station HF Radio

03 Oct 66 to 04 Oct 66- Mercersburg PA                     09 Aug 70 to Thurmont MD– HF Radio console

12 Dec 66 to 19 Dec 66- Mercersburg PA                   11 May 71 to Camp Pendleton CA- ORE

                                                                                     19 Sep 71 to Chicago IL- Motorola Radio 

                                                                                   14 Nov 71 to Washington DC - Linkcopex

 PROLOGUE & BIO 

WHCA CANNONBALL BLOG

https://whcacannonball.blogspot.com/

 

 

A first-hand account of life in the White House Communications Agency and the Presidential Emergency Facilities in the 1960s and 1970s.

This blog offers a personal perspective on life in the White House Communications Agency and the Presidential Emergency Facilities during the 1960s and 1970s. It shares my firsthand experiences from 1965 to 1974, including my time at Camp David and Cannonball Tower - two functioning facilities that were part of the Presidential Emergency Facilities, built in the 1960s and decommissioned in 1970.

 

As a member of the White House Communications Agency, I provided support communications for Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon, these trips include the 1966 SEATO Conference in Manila PI, the 1967 OAS Conference in Punta del Este UR, the 1968 Presidential election, the 1969 State Visit to New Delhi IN, and President Nixon's historic trip to China in 1972, as well as many visits to his Western White House in San Clemente, CA, and the Florida White House in Key Biscayne FL, from 1970 through 1974.

Additionally, I delve into the historical context surrounding the establishment and implementation of the White House Communications Agency and the Presidential Emergency Facilities microwave network. Overall, this blog provides a unique glimpse into the inner workings of these institutions and my personal experiences during this pivotal time in American history.